100 – Interview: Bill Thomas on Ageism, Housing & Changing Aging in 2019

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with geriatrician Bill Thomas, MD,  founder of ChangingAging.org. They discuss what he’s worked on during the past year, including his work fostering better aging through Minka houses, MAGIC (Multi-Ability, Multi-Generational Inclusive) Communities, and much more. They cover:

• Why ageism is so important
• Why it’s better to avoid age (and ability) segregation, when it comes to housing and community services
• The mismatch between the housing we have and the housing we need
• The problem of older adults loving houses that don’t love them back
• His own experience this year of turning 60 and of moving to a smaller house
• How cars affect aging and communities, and whether self-driving cars will change things
• Why the Village of Hope community is designed to cultivate social capital
• His recent work in value-based home health care
• Whether aging issues will become part of the election conversation
• Why it’s vital to confront our internal ageist narratives and appreciate our aging faces

Related episodes: 

082- Interview: Bill Thomas on Housing & Communities as Engines of Independence in Aging

055 – Interview: Bill Thomas on Ageism & Innovations to Improve Aging

098 – Interview: Medicare Open Enrollment: What to Know & When to Switch

Related Resources:

• ChangingAging.org
  • Minka MAGIC Homes and Communities
• Harvard report: Housing America’s Older Adults 2019
• Minka: Homes and Communities
• Can This Tiny House Solve Senior Housing Shortage?
• Saying No to Pervasive Ageism
• VILLAGE OF HOPE: Plans unveiled for dementia-friendly housing facility
• Bill Thomas: Home Care Providers Need to Get into the Real Estate Game